Box strap holder and loader



June 4, 1940. G. M. HILL er A1. 2,203,412

, BOX STRAP HOLDER AND LOADER Filed oct. 4, 19:58

Patented June 4, 1940 eATENroFFICE i BOX STRAP HOLDER LADER e George M. Hill and Harley D. cial-k, Riverside, f Calif. p

'Application October 4, 1938, Serial No. 233,222 p "1 claims.` (ci. 149.5)

Our invention relates to a combined strap holder and loading device `for strapping machines of the character employed to apply straps, bales, and the like, to boxes and similar articles, and` has g particular referencel to a method ofand means for supplying prepared :straps tothe machine.

l Our strap loading device is particularly adaptable to machines, of the character set forth in the George D; Parker Patent No. 1,77'7,474,-in

1u which is disclosed a machine `for applying straps transversely across the covers on boxes,.such as are used in the citrus industry.

`The machine employs preformed metal straps which consist of a length of `wire strap material 15 having `the `extreme `ends thereof bent and sharpened to form prepared driving ends so `that as the strap is bent about the coverof the box the driving ends are `positioned `to `bedriven into the side walls of the box to thus secure the strap to the 20 box. `Thecommon practice in machines of this straps supplied to the consumer in the form of a e bundle of straps laid out upon a suitableframe or card which hold a predetermined quantity of straps in a package with the straps arranged one upon another ready to be fed into the magazine of the strapping machine. `Such carded straps are disclosed in the George D. Parker Patent No. 1,739,085. e l o Other methods of inserting the straps in the machineincludeloaders in which the straps supplied to the consumer, loose or in bulk, are in.- serted in the loader one at a time by hand. The loader is then placed upon a machine which has 45 been modied to accommodate the loader, and the straps are then discharged into the magazine of the machine. About the only advantage these loaders provide over loading the machine `by hand is` that the hand loading may be performed on a 50 bench or other convenient place to work instead of at the machine while` the machine is in operation. These devices have `the disadvantage however of requiring that the machine be modified so `as to accommodate the loader. 55 flhe `useof cardedstraps allows such straps to be readily inserted in the magazine of` themachine, but the `.removal of the metal card which is used to unite a number of straps into a single unit is `another matter. The metal cards, of course, must be removed from the group of straps before the straps maybe usedin :the machine. The metal card is ordinarily removed from the straps by bending, prying, or otherwise ldeforming the card until the card is tornfree of the straps and lished out of the `magazineof the machine.

In view of the fact-that the card `supporting these-straps is `ordinarily constructed `of, relatively thin metal, an appreciable operating hazard eX- ists, and it is not uncommon for a machine operator to receive more 'or lessserious cutsand `15 abrasions while `performing this operation.

It is therefore `aprimary object of our; invention to provide a combined strap holder and loading device of such type as to make it economically feasible to supply straps to the consumer mounted upon said device. f

It is an additional object of our inventionto provide a combined strap holder and loading device of such type that straps maybe readilydischarged `therefrom vintocthe magazine4 of the .25 strapping machine without deforming orinjuring the straps or thedevice. e j

It is alsdanV object of our invention to provide a combined strap holder and loading device of the character set forth` which may be used in conjunction with a strapping machine of the type re ferred to hereinbefore without requiring modifications of said machine. e l i It is a further object of our invention to provide a combined strap holder and loading device of the character set forth of such type that removal ofthe straps therefrom in no wayimpairs its utility for re-loading.

It is also an object of our invention to provide a combined strap holder and loading device of o the character set forthl'whichis sufficiently inexpensive to manufacture as to make it feasible for manufacturers offstraps to use said device as a container for shipping the straps to the consumer. e e, 45

Other objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent uponla study of the following specifications, read in `connection with the ac-` of a strapping machine with the device of our invention in place;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken along the line III- III of Fig. 2 showing the method of construction of the upper part of the magazine of a strapping machine and the relationship of our device thereto; and

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the combined strap holder and loading device of our invention with the locking bar removed and a strap in position to be inserted upon the holder. e Y,

Referring to the drawing, we have illustrated in Fig. l a portion of a strapping'machine, such as that disclosed in the George D.`Parker Patent No. 1,777,474, hereinabove referred to, this maf chine including a pair or uprights I extending above a suitable box-supporting table, not shown, the uprights I constituting the mounting for a reciprocating strap press fully disclosed in the above noted patent. y Mounted between the uprights I is a strapfeeding mechanism 3 which includes a pair of strap-supporting rests 4 (only one of which is shown herein), it being understood that there is a similar strap-supporting rest on thefopposite side of the machine. The strap-supporting rests 4 constitute rests upon which the prepared bent and sharpened end' 5 of a preformed wire strap 6 may rest with the pointed end 5 thereof projecting toward the front of the machine. When the strap is in this position it is ready to be pressed forwardly of the machine by means of a strapfeeding dog 'I which is reciprocably mounted for movement forwardly and rearwardly of the machine in a suitable cage 8'. The strap-,feeding dog lis arranged to be moved 4forwardly and rearwardly of the machine by means of an operating lever'9 mounted upon a shaft I0 which extends crossways of the machine ,tol engage a similar lever and operate a strap-feeding dog upon the opposite side of the machine (not shown). n f

Thus, whenever the lever 9 is operated the dog 'I will engage the strap which is at that time resting upon the rest 4 and press the same forwardly intothe position indicated inl Fig. 1 of the draw` ing so that the strap may turn and fall over the curvedforward end II of the strap supporting rest 4 andr thus fall into a suitableslot I2 and pass to a position immediately above the box or other article to which it is to be attached with the point of the strap extending downwardly ready to be bent overand driven into the side of the article. y

Rising immediately above the strap-supporting rests is a pair of spaced vertical guides I3, the spaceV between these guidesvand the uprights I being just sufficient to admit the bent end 5 of the strap 6 `so that the guides I3 and the upright l constitutea strap-holding magazine in which a plurality of straps may lie one uponthe other in perfect order ready to droprupon the rest 4 as the lowermost strap is fed outwardly from vthe rest by the strap-feeding dog. v

The straps are additionally supported and held in place in the guide by means of rear guide plates I5 which lie immediately behind the guide I3 and are spaced therefrom'only by such distance as will accommodate the diameter of one of the straps 6.

The upper ends of the uprights I and the guides I3 are held in the proper spaced relationship by a cast or forged spacing member I6 whichincludes slots II at each end to'allowample clearl 5 and the body portion of the strap 6.

ance for the points 5 of the straps 6. The spacing member I6 is also provided with angle shaped ends I8 adapted to fit about the uprights I- and a depressed central portion I9 forming llets 20 at either end of the depression.

The foregoing is a brief description of one well known form of strapping machine with which the combined strap holder and loading device of our invention may be used, this description being included herein so that the manner in which the device of our invention may be used therewith can be clearly set forth.

The preferred embodiment of our invention is illustrated in Fig. 4 as including a frame comprising an upper end member 25 and a lower end member 26 which are held in parallel spaced relationship relative to each other by means of angle side members 2l and 28. The ends of the end frames 25 and 26 are cut at an angle to match the angle included between the bent end The angle sides 21 and 28 are formed with the angle included between the sides matching the angle cut at the ends of the end frames`25 and 26. The angle sides 21 and 28 are placed upon the end frames 25 and '26 with the sides thereof overlapping the ends of the end frames 25 and 26 and secured thereto in any suitable manner.

We provide an abutment 29 at the front of the lower end frame of lsuch shape as to form a guide bar fitting into the depressed portion I9 of the spacing. member I6. The `ends of the guide vbar 29 are cut at an angle to match the fillets 20 of the spacingmember I6, thereby providing an aligning member for aligning the straps with the magazine guides. At the rearside of the upper end frame426 is attached a stop bar 36, the function of which is to prevent the strap 6 fromy sliding off the upper end when placed on the holder from the lower end. It is intended that this strap holder be automatically loaded from the machine'which is employed to manufacture the straps and that the stop member 36 operate to prevent the straps from being pushed off the far end of the holder. Also, to prevent the bent ends of the straps `from rotating on the loader and binding thereon, we provide a stop 30a on eachof the sides 21 and 28 suchf as bystrilririg-up` the metal into a hump as shown in Figs. l, 2, and 4 Holes 3| and 32 are provided in the mid portion of the end frames 25 and 26 just below the rear surface thereof and aligned to receive a locking bar of wire 33.

' yWhen the straps 6 are assembled on the holder, as indicated in Fig. 2, the central portions of said straps aredepressed to a point below the holes 3| and 32, as indicated in Fig. 3. Locking bar 33 is then inserted through the hole 3| over the back of the strapsl and intothe hole 32, thereby effectively locking the straps in place and preventing their accidental release. When the loader is used for especially long straps, two or more of such locking bars may be distributed alongv the length o f the loader.

In `order to use the previously described strap holder also as a device for loading the magazine of the strapping machine, the strap holder is placed' upon the upper ends of thel uprights I and I5 in a position shown in Fig. 2 with the guide bar 29 lying in the depression I 9 of the spacing member I6. rfn this position the straps on the strap holder will lie directly above the guides in the machine magazine formed by the uprighrts I, guide ymembers I3 and rear guide plates I5. When heldin this position the removal of the locking bar 33 will release the straps from the strap holder and allow them to fall freely into the magazine of the machine.

It will be seen therefore that we have provided a combined strap holder and loading device for box strapping machines which may be used to load the magazine of such machine without requiring any changes or modications of the strapping machine. Furthermore, the device is of such design as to be readily and inexpensively manufactured and to provide a simple and con-` venientl method of transporting straps from` the manufacturer to the consumer. It will also be noted that the operation of using the strap holder as a loading device for loading the strapping machine is very simple and may be performed without damaging in any way the "straps assembled thereon.

While we have shown and described the pre--` ferred embodiment of our invention we do not desire to be limited to any of the details of construction shown or` described herein, except as defined in the appended claims.

We claim: l

1. In a strap holder for a plurality of preformed `metal straps to be applied by machine to containers, the combination of a frame including` side members for engaging the hooked ends of said straps and end members for holding said side members in spaced relation relative to each other; and releasable means extending between said end members and over said straps for securing said straps to said frame.

2. In a strap holder for a plurality of preformedmetal straps having the ends thereof bent forwardly to form an acute angle with the body thereof to be applied by machine to containers, the combination of: a frame including angle shaped side members for engaging the bent end of said straps, said angle shape being similar to said angle of said bent ends of said straps, and upper and lower end members for holding said side members in spaced relation relative to each other; and releasable means` extending through said upper end member and over the backs of said straps and into said lower end member for securing said straps to said frame.

3. In a device for loading preformed metal straps into a strapping machine equipped with a magazine for holding a supply of said straps and including a pair of spaced guides for receiving and guiding the ends of saidI straps and a spacing member extending between said guides; a strap holder including spaced side members engaging `the ends of said straps and means supporting said side members in spaced relation relative to each other; and an abutment on said strap holder for engaging said spacing member to align the ends of said straps with said magazine guides.

4. In a device for loading preformed metal straps into a strapping machine equipped with a magazine for holding a supply of said straps and including a pair of spaced guides for receiving and'guiding the ends of said straps and a spacing member `extending between said guides; a strap holder including side members for engaging hooked ends of said straps, andv end members for holding said side members in aA spaced relation relative to each other; releasable means extending between said end members and over said straps for securing said straps to said strap. holder; and an abutment on said strap holder for engaging said. spacing member to align the ends of said straps with said magazine guides.

5. In` a device for loading preformed metal straps having their ends bent forwardly to form an acute angle with the body thereof into a strapping machine equipped with a magazine for holding a supply of said straps and including a pair of spaced guides for receiving and guiding the ends of said straps and a spacing member extending between said guides; a strap holder including angle shaped side members for engag` ing the bent ends of said straps, said angle shape being similar to said angle of said bent ends of said straps, and upper and lower end members for holding said side members in spaced relation relative to each other; aligning means on said strap holder for engaging said spacing member to align the ends of said straps with said magazine guides; and releasable means extending through said upper end member and over the backs of said straps and into said lower end member for securing said straps to said strap holder.

6. In a device for loading preformed metal straps having their ends bent forwardly to form an acute angle with the body thereof into a strapping machine equipped with a magazine for holding a supply of said straps and including a pair of spaced guides for receiving and guiding the ends of said `straps and a spacing member extending between saidguides; a strap holder including angle shaped side members for engaging the bent end of said straps, said angle shape being similar to said angle of said bent ends of said straps, and upper and lower end members for holding said side members in spaced relation relative to each other; and aligning means on said strap holder for engaging said spacing member to align the ends of said straps with said magazine guides.

7. A method of packaging preformed metal straps having the ends thereof bent forwardly lli? to form an acute anglev with the body thereof to be applied to containers by machine comprising: slipping a plurality of said straps upon a holder adapted to pass between the bent ends of said GEORGE M. HILL. HARLEY D. CLARK. 

